That we are spiritual at one time
does not guarantee that we shall always remain
so. There may come, if we permit it, a time of
retrogression. Our zeal may flag, our love grow
cold, and our interest may be lost, and we may
become indifferent. "Therefore we ought to give
the more earnest heed to the things which we
have heard, lest at any time we should let them
slip" (Hebrews 2:1). Water, when unconfined,
always flows downhill, and so do the natural
currents of life. Serving the Lord, like any
other good thing, requires exertion. If we grow
careless and merely drift along, the current
will always lead us farther away from God.
Progress Godward is always progress upward.

How many who once were afire for
God are now cold and indifferent! How many who
once were bright lights are now only smoking
wicks! Remember that what we once were does not
give evidence of what we are now. Spiritual
progress results from conformity to the laws of
progress, and spiritual retrogression from lack
of conformity to these laws. Physical growth is
dependent upon the taking in and assimilation of
new materials by an already organized structure.
Spiritual growth depends upon our taking in
spiritual materials and utilizing them properly
in our development. We are commanded to be
filled with the Spirit. If we keep so filled,
there will be no retrogression.

There are a number of things that
contribute to drifting away from God. Let us
consider some of them.

Neglect of prayer and of the
reading of Godís Word. When we neglect these, we
cannot but grow indifferent and fail to make
spiritual progress. When we neglect these
things, we soon lose our relish for them; and
when that relish is lost, it becomes still more
easy to neglect them. In this way we shut up the
channel of grace and thereby prevent its flowing
into our hearts.

Neglect of attending meetings.
When people grow careless about assembling
themselves with Godís people, it is an evidence
that they are drifting. Fervent love for God
gives us a fervent love for his people; and a
fervent love for them brings a fervent desire to
be with them. A loss of interest, either through
neglect or by letting another interest come in
ahead of God, draws the soul away. We can
prosper spiritually only so long as God has
first place in our affections and first place in
our interests. Beware of anything that comes
between you and God, to draw your interest away
from him. It will be ruinous to your soul.

Drawing away from duty. When
people are first saved, as a rule they have a
great zeal to work for God. They prefer doing
that to anything else. Their souls delight in
it. It is their meat to do his will. So long as
they are in this attitude, they will prosper;
they will steadily grow in grace and in the
knowledge of our Lord. But when their zeal
begins to cool and their love becomes less
strong, there is often a drawing back from duty.
Before, they needed no urging; they were ready.
Now, duty is irksome; they go about it
reluctantly. They prefer that someone else work
while they look on. They serve God from a sense
of duty rather than from a sense of love. If we
saw these things in their right aspect and their
true meaning, we should see them as great
danger-posts along the way warning us of the
trouble ahead. Such a change always indicates
spiritual retrogression. It shows that the soul,
instead of becoming more spiritual, is becoming
less so.

Hardening the conscience until it
loses its tenderness toward God, and so becoming
careless in life. In the beginning of our
new-born life, we have a tender conscience
toward God. We ought to care for this tender
conscience. We ought to follow it carefully, and
keep it tender toward God. It must, however, be
regulated by common sense and good judgment, or
it will become a tyrant and rule our lives in a
way to make us miserable. This is quite
different from having that careful earnest
desire to please God. When we are drifting, we
are not so much concerned about pleasing God as
we were before, and we become more concerned
about pleasing ourselves. Beware of the increase
of this self-pleasing disposition. It is always
a mark of spiritual degeneration.

Self-indulgence. No matter what
direction this may take, it is sure to bring
evil results. Partaking of worldly amusements,
allowing pride to come into the soul and
gratifying it with worldly apparel, luxurious
living, and all similar things are destructive
to spirituality.

Going back on our obligations.
When we make God a promise to do something he
asks of us, he expects us to live up to it; and
not only does he expect it, but he will require
it. Therefore, if we draw back from that which
we have promised him, or if we withhold from him
the service that we have promised him, we shall
do it at great cost to our souls. There are
thousands of souls who draw back in this way.
They make promises to God, and when they make
them, they mean to fulfill them; but as time
goes on and they do not fulfill them, they grow
careless about it, or indifferent, or unwilling,
or for some other reason fail to perform what
they promised. They draw back from being wholly
the Lordís. They want to do something for
themselves. They want to choose their own way
and make their own plans. God, of course,
permits them to do this, but it is at the loss
of their spirituality and of his blessing upon
their souls. In the end, if they persist, it
will mean their eternal ruin.

Oh, beware of drifting! Beware of
carelessness and neglect. Beware of drawing back
from what you have promised God. Beware of
anything and everything that makes you less
spiritual. Keep this thought in mind: You have
but one chance to gain heaven. If you miss that
one chance, you have missed all. Press forward;
make some gain each day. You will not be able to
see that you have made a gain every day, but if
you walk humbly before God and do your duty,
lovingly and faithfully, you will each day draw
a little nearer God. He has said, "Draw nigh to
God, and he will draw nigh to you." Every step
we make toward God, he makes a step toward us.
It is just like walking toward your reflection
in a mirror. Every time you step toward your
reflection, it seems to step towards you, so
that one step brings you two steps nearer. Just
so each step you take toward God
bringshim two steps nearer
you.